BIG MARLIN BEAT GOES ON
Capt. Jaff Kahl may have sent Kona its next grander. Jeff runs the Maui charter boat Piper. Last week, Jeff hooked a fish he estimated at 900 pounds or more. He used the designation “900+,” a kind of code for “mighta been a grander.” They got the marlin to the boat in about three hours, placed a tag and released her.
“She had plenty of fight left in her,” Jeff said. “It was a good feeling turning this majestic monster free to continue her marauding ways down below! Breed on!” More
SMALL PACKAGE BIG GIFT
This year’s good run of shortbill spearfish is the gift that keeps on giving. 
Spearfish may be the smallest of the world’s 10-member billfish family, but catching one of these spectacular-looking gamefish can be a big event for the neophyte as well as the veteran.
BIG BAIT JARGON
In the 45 years this column has appeared here, we’ve collected a very diverse readership ranging from the world’s best pro fishermen to a curious non-fishing general public. For the latter (and some times the former), the fishing jargon can be befuddling. We try to unbefuddle from time to time. More
WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN
When a fisherman watches someone else do well on a day when he hasn’t, he’ll shrug his shoulders and say “It was his turn. We’ll get ours.”
Last week, it was unarguably Capt. Chuck Wigzell’s turn. More
WORLD TUNA DAY
May 2, was United Nations World Tuna Day. The observance shines a special spotlight on Hawaii as a central focus of the US tuna industry. Among the “wherases and therefores” in the official proclamations for the day, you’ll see a few facts you may never have heard before. More
AGAINST THE ODDS
Oldtimers will remember the late Dr. “Kid” McCoy. Doc was an avid fisherman, and his boat Happy Hooker was a regular sight offshore whenever his veterinary practice allowed. He preferred to fish with live bait rather than lures because he said lure-fishing was an exercise in futility. During the 1977 HIBT I fished on Happy Hooker for a week and our team got exactly one strike in 40 hours of towing lures. “If marlin are endangered,” Doc said, “It’s not by any of us.” More
Big-Fish List for 2017. The list recognizes the biggest fish caught on rod and reel (except opakapaka and onaga, for which we’ll accept handline catches) in West Hawaii waters for 2017 in each of 22 categories. They are listed by species, weight, angler, skipper, boat, and date. The list is updated every Sunday throughout the year (copyright 2017 by Jim Rizzuto). If we have overlooked you, give us a call (885-4208) or send an e-mail ([email protected]).
Blue marlin, 925, Guy Terwilliger, Capt. Cindy Cary, Cindy Lu. Apr. 2
Black marlin, 357, Todd Nakatani, Keola Toriano, Breezin. Apr 6.
Ahi, 242, Shawn Takaki, Clarence Minamishin Jr., Malama Lama. Apr 13.
Bigeye tuna, 121.5, Kelsey Bestall, Capt. Jah Nogues, High Noon. Jan 14
Striped marlin, 107, David Benson, Capt. Kevin Hiney, Kuuipo. Mar 31
Spearfish, 56, Mac Jorgensen, Capt. Kenny Fogarty, Hula Girl. Mar 13.
Sailfish, 93, Justin Kaber, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner, Mar. 25.
Mahimahi, 46.5, Brita Campbell, Capt. Bob Beach, Reel Screamer. Mar 2.
Ono, 75.5, Jason Wong, Donny Kobayashi, No Name. Mar. 22.
Kaku, (barracuda), 39, Chad Culbertson, Capt. Jeff Rogers, Aloha Kai. Jan 23
Kahala, vacant
Ulua (giant trevally), vacant
Omilu (bluefin trevally), vacant
Otaru (skipjack tuna), 24, Marie Hulletel, Capt Kevin Hiney, Ku`uipo. Feb 10.
Broadbill swordfish, vacant
Ahipalaha (albacore), vacant
Kawakawa, 22.5, Britt McCurdy, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan 31
Kamanu (rainbow runner), 20.5, Britt McCurdy, Capt. Shawn Rotella, Night Runner. Jan 31
Opakapaka (pink snapper), 14.5, Greg Hong, Kevin Shiraki, Erin Kai. Jan 12.
Onaga (ulaula ko`aie), 21, Greg Hong and Kevin Shiraki, Erin Kai. Mar 6.
Uku (gray snapper), 37.8, Billy Wakefield, Kiakahi. Apr 4
O`io (bonefish), 10.5, Hansen Gardling, shoreline. Mar 30.
Beasts of the week (marlin weighing 500 pounds or more, including R for releases).
None reported
Released:
Apr 23: Blue marlin (150), blue marlin (400) Vicki Pickens, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, EZ Pickens
Apr 24: Striped marlin (100) unknown, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, Hooked Up
Apr 26: Blue marlin (125 and 225) Mark Kinsler, Capt. Neal Isaacs, Anxious
Apr 27: Spearfish (35) unknown, Capt. Neal Isaacs, Anxious
Apr 27: Blue marlin (180 and 350), spearfish (30) Laura Kingsbury, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, Hooked Up
Apr 28: Blue marlin (400) Parker Nguyen, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, EZ Pickens
Apr 28: Blue marlin (175) Katy Hansen, Capt. James Dean, Blue Hawaii
Apr 29: Blue marlin (250) James Golia, Capt. Marlin Parker, Marlin Magic II
Boated:
Apr 23: Blue marlin (134.5) Cyrus Machi, Genesis Marks, Naia Lele
Apr 24: Ahi (99.5) Taylor Lund, Capt. James Dean, Blue Hawaii
Apr 24: Ahi (80) Tony Mascone, Capt. Molly Palmer, Camelot
Apr 25: Blue marlin (142) Isaac Fleming, Jerry Waliezer, Miss Cindy
Apr 25: Mahimahi (three pieces from 15 to 18) unknown, Capt. Kent Mongreig, Sea Wife II
Apr 26: Ahi (120) Bill Manns, Capt. Guy Terwilliger, High Flier
Apr 26: Blue marlin (133) Henderson family, Dennis Bishop, Koko
Apr 26: Spearfish (28.5) Carol Ott, Capt. Chris Donato, Benchmark
Apr 26: Ahi (100), ono (20 and 25) Nicole Hewitt, Capt. John Bagwell, Silky
Apr 26: Ono (30 and 30) Mark Kinsler, Capt. Neal Isaacs, Anxious
Apr 27: Ono (20) unknown, Capt. Neal Isaacs, Anxious
Apr 27: Spearfish (25) Laura Kingsbury, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, Hooked Up
Apr 28: Spearfish (30), mahimahi (15) Parker Nguyen, Capt. Chuck Wigzell, EZ Pickens
Apr 28: Ono (21 and 23) Nathan Nielson, Capt. Jeff Heintz, Linda Sue IV
Apr 29: Blue marlin (490) Kevin Powers, Capt. Guy Terwilliger, High Flier
Apr 29: Blue marlin (304.5) Roger Beasley, Keith Chapman, Kalele